NEWS FEATURE

Family of African student killed in Cyprus demands justice

The family of a Nigerian student, Gabriel Soriwei, who was killed in the North Cyprus city of Nicosia, has cried out to the Federal Government to assist the family in getting justice for the slain boy.Gabriel, 20, a first year student of Electrical/Electronic Engineering at the Cyprus International University, Nicosia, in the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus, was knocked down by a female driver on July 13, 2013.

As a result of the impact of the accident, he fell into a coma and eventually died on September 7, 2013.

On September 12, the Cyprus International University authorities flew his remains via Turkish Airline to Nigeria as a cargo.

His father, Patrick Soriwei, who had petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan, the National Assembly and the National Human Rights Commission, said while the family had accepted the reality of the painful loss of their child, his death raised some issues about the value placed on the life of Nigerians outside the shores of the country.

The grieving father said, “First, neither the Cyprus International University nor the family of the woman, who drove the car that killed Gabriel, has found it necessary to at least write to the family to “condole with us on the death of this young man, who until his death, was contributing to the economy of Cyprus by paying school fees as a foreign student.

“I also find it unjust that the Cyprus authorities are hiding the identity of the woman, who killed our child, from us. The Cyprus police have insisted that it is the practice to ensure that such a person was shielded from the family of the victim.”

The bereaved father said he had been informed during a visit to Nicosia by the Turkish police that the female driver had lost control of the vehicle, which knocked down Gabriel. Investigations had revealed that she was under the influence of alcohol at the time.

The woman was said to have been detained for three days before she was released while no further action had been taken on the case by the Turkish authorities since the woman was released.

The university, which reportedly plays host to about 700 Nigerian students, has allegedly not shown any interest in the case. Despite several entreaties by the family to the school authorities, Gabriel’s belongings have yet to be sent to Nigeria.

The father added, “Although, the Nigerian Embassy in Cyprus is aware of the incident, it does not seem to see the need to defend the rights of Nigerians there as a priority.

“The best the Nigerian Mission in Ankara has done was to send one Uche to the university to find out the cause of the death. The Mission has not rendered the necessary assistance in getting the police to write a report on his death. This delay in writing this report, we believe, is inspired by a plot to subvert the process of justice in this matter.

“We intend to pursue this matter to a logical conclusion. We also urge the Federal Government and all Nigerians of good conscience to come to our aid in our search for justice. The life of a Nigerian child should be treated more decently than that of a stray animal.”

When contacted, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ogbole Ahmedu-Ode said he could not comment on the issue because, “It has yet to be brought to my attention.”

The family of a Nigerian student, Gabriel Soriwei, who was killed in the North Cyprus city of Nicosia, has cried out to the Federal Government to assist the family in getting justice for the slain boy.

Gabriel, 20, a first year student of Electrical/Electronic Engineering at the Cyprus International University, Nicosia, in the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus, was knocked down by a female driver on July 13, 2013.

As a result of the impact of the accident, he fell into a coma and eventually died on September 7, 2013.

On September 12, the Cyprus International University authorities flew his remains via Turkish Airline to Nigeria as a cargo.

His father, Patrick Soriwei, who had petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan, the National Assembly and the National Human Rights Commission, said while the family had accepted the reality of the painful loss of their child, his death raised some issues about the value placed on the life of Nigerians outside the shores of the country.

The grieving father said, “First, neither the Cyprus International University nor the family of the woman, who drove the car that killed Gabriel, has found it necessary to at least write to the family to “condole with us on the death of this young man, who until his death, was contributing to the economy of Cyprus by paying school fees as a foreign student.

“I also find it unjust that the Cyprus authorities are hiding the identity of the woman, who killed our child, from us. The Cyprus police have insisted that it is the practice to ensure that such a person was shielded from the family of the victim.”

The bereaved father said he had been informed during a visit to Nicosia by the Turkish police that the female driver had lost control of the vehicle, which knocked down Gabriel. Investigations had revealed that she was under the influence of alcohol at the time.

The woman was said to have been detained for three days before she was released while no further action had been taken on the case by the Turkish authorities since the woman was released.

The university, which reportedly plays host to about 700 Nigerian students, has allegedly not shown any interest in the case. Despite several entreaties by the family to the school authorities, Gabriel’s belongings have yet to be sent to Nigeria.

The father added, “Although, the Nigerian Embassy in Cyprus is aware of the incident, it does not seem to see the need to defend the rights of Nigerians there as a priority.

“The best the Nigerian Mission in Ankara has done was to send one Uche to the university to find out the cause of the death. The Mission has not rendered the necessary assistance in getting the police to write a report on his death. This delay in writing this report, we believe, is inspired by a plot to subvert the process of justice in this matter.

“We intend to pursue this matter to a logical conclusion. We also urge the Federal Government and all Nigerians of good conscience to come to our aid in our search for justice. The life of a Nigerian child should be treated more decently than that of a stray animal.”

When contacted, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ogbole Ahmedu-Ode said he could not comment on the issue because, “It has yet to be brought to my attention.”